Virat Kohli is all praise for his team for bouncing back from Test series loss against South Africa

Indian captain Virat Kohli was all praise for his team that came back from a 1-2 Test series loss to outplay South Africans in One-Day International (ODI) to win the six-match series 5-1. 

"They've shown a lot of character. Especially those two young spinners. They've been so brave and outstanding. They've come back from Johannesburg superbly," Kohli, who led from the front and smashed his 35th ODI ton in the sixth match, said after the match. 

India, who lost the three-match test series 2-1, will now play South Africa in three Twenty20 internationals at end of their two-month tour.

"Three T20Is to go, tour is not over yet. The first two Tests we weren't happy with ourselves. Couldn't take the game to the opposition. Didn't take a backward step since Johannesburg. I was here, having lost the series, and speaking to you. And now I'm here, having won the series, and speaking to you. Been a wonderful turnaround," Kohli said in a press conference after the series win. 

Kohli scored 129 not out to set a new record for the most runs in a six-match ODI series as India strode to a comfortable win at Centurion. India reached the victory target of 205 with 107 balls to spare after putting South Africa into bat and bowling them out for 204.

The skipper, who reached his 35th ODI ton in just 82 balls, was dropped on 103 and remained not out at 129. 

The Delhi batsman's 96 ball innings helped him set a new record of most runs in six-match ODI series. He finished the six-match series with a total of 558 runs at an average of 198, easily eclipsing the previous mark of 491 runs achieved by teammate Rohit Sharma against Australia in the 2013-14 season.

After the win, Kohli said his wife Anushka Sharma keeps him motivated and deserves a lot of credit.

"People who contribute off the field they deserve a lot of credit as well. My wife who keeps me motivated deserves a lot of credit," he said in the post-match interview.

Kohli said Anushka had been criticised a lot in the past "but she's one person who's kept me going throughout the tour." 

Kohli said he wants to make most of his career and lead from the front. 

"You want to lead from the front with your performances. It's a wonderful feeling. I got 8-9 years left in my career. I want to make the most of it. It's a blessing from God that I'm healthy. I just look at it that way. I just keep my head down so I can give 120% for the team," he said.

"It's all about being in a good zone," Kohli said after being named man of the series. "On the day I felt good and my timing was right. I want to lead from the front with my performances."

(With agencies)